Synchronizing a source, response and comment presentation

ABSTRACT

For displaying a source presentation with accompanying timed responses and comments, a synchronization module synchronizes client time codes with a host time code as a medium module records responses and comments on the source presentation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part that claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/315,176 entitle “PRESENTING A SOURCEMEDIUM” and filed on Jun. 25, 2014 for Dallin M. Scherbell, which isincorporated herein by reference, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/841,050 entitled “PRESENTING ASOURCE MEDIUM” and filed on Jun. 28, 2013 for Dallin Scherbell, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates synchronizing a source,response, and comment presentation.

Description of the Related Art

A response and/or comment may be recorded to accompany a sourcepresentation such as a language instruction presentation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the embodiments of the invention will bereadily understood, a more particular description of the embodimentsbriefly described above will be rendered by reference to specificembodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understandingthat these drawings depict only some embodiments and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of scope, the embodiments will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of apresentation system;

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of aresponse medium;

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of acommand record;

FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of acomment medium;

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of asource medium;

FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of acomputer;

FIG. 3B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of apresentation apparatus;

FIG. 4A is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa recording method;

FIG. 4B is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa synchronization method;

FIG. 5A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofcommunicating a host time code;

FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of communicating a host time code;

FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of communicating a host time code;

FIG. 5D is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofcontrolling a presentation of a source presentation;

FIG. 5E is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of acommand record;

FIG. 5F is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofpresenting a source presentation and a recorded response;

FIG. 5G is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of presenting a source presentation and a recorded response;and

FIG. 5H is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of presenting a source presentation and a comment response.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughoutthis specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the sameembodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unlessexpressly specified otherwise. The terms “including,” “comprising,”“having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of itemsdoes not imply that any or all the items are mutually exclusive and/ormutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,”“an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize that the embodiments may be practicedwithout one or more of the specific features or advantages of aparticular embodiment. In other instances, additional features andadvantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not bepresent in all embodiments.

These features and advantages of the embodiments will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, or may belearned by the practice of embodiments as set forth hereinafter. As willbe appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method, and/or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

Many of the functional units described in this specification have beenlabeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize theirimplementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented asa hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays,off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or otherdiscrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmablehardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmablearray logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by varioustypes of processors. An identified module of computer readable programcode may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocksof computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as anobject, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of anidentified module need not be physically located together, but maycomprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which,when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve thestated purpose for the module.

Indeed, a module of computer readable program code may be a singleinstruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed overseveral different code segments, among different programs, and acrossseveral memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identifiedand illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in anysuitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure.The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may bedistributed over different locations including over different storagedevices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signalson a system or network. Where a module or portions of a module areimplemented in software, the computer readable program code may bestored and/or propagated on in one or more computer readable medium(s).

The computer readable medium may be a tangible computer readable storagemedium storing the computer readable program code. The computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic,micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing.

More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium mayinclude but are not limited to a portable computer diskette, a harddisk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), aportable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatiledisc (DVD), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, aholographic storage medium, a micromechanical storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain, and/or store computer readable program code for use by and/orin connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice.

Computer readable program code for carrying out operations for aspectsof the present invention may be written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, PHP or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through any type ofnetwork, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (forexample, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

The computer program product may be shared, simultaneously servingmultiple customers in a flexible, automated fashion. The computerprogram product may be standardized, requiring little customization andscalable, providing capacity on demand in a pay-as-you-go model.

The computer program product may be stored on a shared file systemaccessible from one or more servers. The computer program product may beexecuted via transactions that contain data and server processingrequests that use Central Processor Unit (CPU) units on the accessedserver. CPU units may be units of time such as minutes, seconds, hourson the central processor of the server. Additionally, the accessedserver may make requests of other servers that require CPU units. CPUunits are an example that represents but one measurement of use. Othermeasurements of use include but are not limited to network bandwidth,memory usage, storage usage, packet transfers, complete transactionsetc.

When multiple customers use the same computer program product via sharedexecution, transactions are differentiated by the parameters included inthe transactions that identify the unique customer and the type ofservice for that customer. All the CPU units and other measurements ofuse that are used for the services for each customer are recorded. Whenthe number of transactions to any one server reaches a number thatbegins to affect the performance of that server, other servers areaccessed to increase the capacity and to share the workload. Likewise,when other measurements of use such as network bandwidth, memory usage,storage usage, etc. approach a capacity so as to affect performance,additional network bandwidth, memory usage, storage etc. are added toshare the workload.

The measurements of use used for each service and customer are sent to acollecting server that sums the measurements of use for each customerfor each service that was processed anywhere in the network of serversthat provide the shared execution of the computer program product. Thesummed measurements of use units are periodically multiplied by unitcosts and the resulting total computer program product service costs arealternatively sent to the customer and or indicated on a web siteaccessed by the customer which then remits payment to the serviceprovider.

In one embodiment, the service provider requests payment directly from acustomer account at a banking or financial institution. In anotherembodiment, if the service provider is also a customer of the customerthat uses the computer program product, the payment owed to the serviceprovider is reconciled to the payment owed by the service provider tominimize the transfer of payments.

The computer program product may be integrated into a client, server andnetwork environment by providing for the computer program product tocoexist with applications, operating systems and network operatingsystems software and then installing the computer program product on theclients and servers in the environment where the computer programproduct will function.

In one embodiment software is identified on the clients and serversincluding the network operating system where the computer programproduct will be deployed that are required by the computer programproduct or that work in conjunction with the computer program product.This includes the network operating system that is software thatenhances a basic operating system by adding networking features.

In one embodiment, software applications and version numbers areidentified and compared to the list of software applications and versionnumbers that have been tested to work with the computer program product.Those software applications that are missing or that do not match thecorrect version will be upgraded with the correct version numbers.Program instructions that pass parameters from the computer programproduct to the software applications will be checked to ensure theparameter lists match the parameter lists required by the computerprogram product. Conversely parameters passed by the softwareapplications to the computer program product will be checked to ensurethe parameters match the parameters required by the computer programproduct. The client and server operating systems including the networkoperating systems will be identified and compared to the list ofoperating systems, version numbers and network software that have beentested to work with the computer program product. Those operatingsystems, version numbers and network software that do not match the listof tested operating systems and version numbers will be upgraded on theclients and servers to the required level.

In response to determining that the software where the computer programproduct is to be deployed, is at the correct version level that has beentested to work with the computer program product, the integration iscompleted by installing the computer program product on the clients andservers.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the followingdescription, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples ofprogramming, software modules, user selections, network transactions,database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardwarecircuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding ofembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however,that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of anembodiment.

Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference toschematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams of methods,apparatuses, systems, and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams, andcombinations of blocks in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/orschematic block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readableprogram code. The computer readable program code may be provided to aprocessor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer,sequencer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematicflowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

The computer readable program code may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the schematic flowchart diagramsand/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

The computer readable program code may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the program code which executed on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams in theFigures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of apparatuses, systems, methods and computerprogram products according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. In this regard, each block in the schematic flowchartdiagrams and/or schematic block diagrams may represent a module,segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executableinstructions of the program code for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s).

It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in theFigures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, beexecuted substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionalityinvolved. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalentin function, logic, or effect to one or more blocks, or portionsthereof, of the illustrated Figures.

Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in theflowchart and/or block diagrams, they are understood not to limit thescope of the corresponding embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or otherconnectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the depictedembodiment. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoringperiod of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depictedembodiment. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart diagrams, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer readableprogram code.

The description of elements in each figure may refer to elements ofproceeding figures. Like numbers refer to like elements in all figures,including alternate embodiments of like elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of apresentation system 100. The system 100 includes a host 105 and one ormore clients 115. The host 105 and the clients 115 are in communicationthrough a network 110. The network 110 may be the Internet, a wide-areanetwork, a local area network, a Wi-Fi network, a mobile telephonenetwork, an ad hoc network, or combinations thereof.

The host 105 may present a source presentation stored on a source medium215 to one or more clients 115. In one embodiment, the sourcepresentation is streamed over the network 110. Alternatively, a copy ofthe source presentation may be copied to the one or more clients 115. Ina certain embodiment, the source presentation is presented in a browser.The source presentation may be a video. Alternatively, the sourcepresentation may be an audio message. In addition, the sourcepresentation may be one or more of a live presentation, text, adocument, and an illustration. In one embodiment, the sourcepresentation comprises language instruction. In a certain embodiment,the source presentation is a live presentation in video, audio, text,illustration, a document or combinations thereof.

During the presentation of the source presentation, the client 115 maycontrol the presentation of the source presentation with one or morecommands. The commands may be issued at the client 115. In oneembodiment, the commands are issued in response to user activating acontrol. For example, the user may activate one or more of a pausecontrol, a play control, a reverse control, and/or a fast-forwardcontrol.

For example, a user at a client 115 may view a language instructionsource presentation. During the source presentation, the user may berequested to respond to the source presentation. For example, the usermay be requested to answer question and/or to make a statement in atarget language.

The client 115 may record one or more responses and/or comments to thesource presentation. The response may be recorded to one or moreresponse medium 225. The response may be expected subsequent to aportion of the source presentation. In one embodiment, the one or moreresponse medium 225 resides on the client 115. Alternatively, the one ormore response medium 225 resides in the host 105. The recorded responsemay be a video. The recorded response may also be audio, text, adocument, an illustration, or the like. The document may be a PortableDocument Format (PDF) document, a word processor document, apresentation document, a spreadsheet document, or the like. Theillustration may be a still image, a drawn image, and/or a still image.In one embodiment, the recorded response may be a combination of one ormore of a video, audio, text, document, and illustration.

One or more recorded response on the response medium 225 may be laterplayed back along with the source presentation. The user at a client 115may view and/or listen to the recorded response and the sourcepresentation. In addition, other users at other clients 115 may alsoreceive to the recorded response with the source presentation. The otherusers may record comments on the comment medium 270. The comments may bevideo, audio, text, a document, an illustration, or combinationsthereof.

In one embodiment, the source presentation along with the commentresponse and/or recorded response from the comment medium 270 and/or theresponse medium 225 may be played back together. The presentation of thesource presentation with the comment response and/or recorded responseis more effective and useful if the comments and/or recorded responseare properly synchronized with the source presentation.

The host 105 includes a host time code 205. In one embodiment, the hosttime code 205 is an absolute time. Alternatively, the host time code 205may indicate time elapsed from an event such as a beginning of thepresentation of the source presentation. The host time code 205 may begenerated by a clock. In addition, each client includes a client timecode 210. The client time code 210 may be an absolute time.Alternatively, the client time code 210 may indicate a time elapsed froman event such as the beginning of the source presentation and/or thebeginning of a response. The client time code 210 may be generated by aclock.

A command record 230 is also shown. The command record 230 may reside onthe host 105, the client 115, or combinations thereof. The commentmedium 270 may also reside on the host 105, the client 115, andcombinations thereof. The command record 230 and the comment medium 270will be described in more detail hereafter.

In the past, when the source presentation and the recorded response arelater presented together, the recorded response could be out ofsynchronization with the source presentation because the commandscontrolling the presentation of the source presentation are notincorporated in the presentation. For example, a user may pause thepresentation of the source presentation while recording a response, sothat the recorded response is relevant to the instant when thepresentation was paused, and not a longer time interval equal to alength of the recorded response.

In addition, the recorded response may be out of synchronization withthe source presentation because of differences between the host timecode 205 and the client time code 210. For example, a clock generatingthe client time code 210 used with recording the recorded responseand/or comment response may steadily lose time or gain time. Inaddition, a clock generating the host time code 205 used when presentingthe source presentation may also steadily lose or gain time. As aresult, the client time code 210 may diverge from the host time code 205over the presentation of the source presentation. Therefore, time codesof the recorded response may be out of synchronization with the timecodes of the source presentation. When the recorded response is playedback along with the source presentation, the recorded response may beout of synchronization with the source presentation.

When the recorded response is played back with the source presentationand the comment responses, the comment responses may be out ofsynchronization with the source presentation because of the differencesbetween the host time code 205 and the client time code 210. As aresult, time codes of the comment response may be out of synchronizationwith the time codes of the source presentation so that when the commentresponse is played back along with the source presentation and/or therecorded response, the comments will be out of synchronization with thesource presentation.

The embodiments described herein present the source presentationmodified by the commands and concurrently present the recorded responsesynchronized to the host time code. In addition, the embodimentssynchronize the host time code 205 with the client time code 210. As aresult, the recorded response and/or the comment response may bepresented along with the source presentation with the same temporalrelationships as originally recorded at the clients 115.

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of aresponse medium 225. The response medium 225 may be a semiconductormemory, a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a micromechanicalstorage device, or combinations thereof. The recorded response 235 maybe recorded to the response medium 225. The recorded response 235includes a response signal 240 and a response time code 245.

The response signal 240 may be a digital signal, an analog signal, orcombinations thereof. The response signal 240 may record video, audio,text, a document, an illustration, or combinations thereof. The responsetime code 245 may indicate when portions of the response signal 240 arerecorded. In one embodiment, each discrete portion of the responsesignal 240 includes a response time code 245. Alternatively, theresponse time code 245 may indicate a time selected portions of theresponse signal 240 are recorded. For example, the response time code245 may demark a beginning of the response signal 240.

In one embodiment, the response time code 245 is recorded from theclient time code 210. The client time code 210 may be synchronized tothe host time code 205 and thus synchronize the response time code 245to the host time code 205 as will be described thereafter.Alternatively, the response time code 245 may be recorded directly fromthe host time code 205.

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of thecommand record 230. The command record 230 may be stored on a memorysuch as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, an optical storagedevice, a micromechanical storage device, or combinations thereof. Thecommand record 230 may record the commands controlling the presentationof the source presentation at the client 115. The command record 230 mayreside on the client 115. Alternatively, the command record 230 mayreside on the host 105.

The command record 230 includes a command 250 and a command time code255. The command 250 may be a play command, a pause command, the stopcommand, a reverse command, a fast-forward command, or the like. Thecommand time code 255 may record a time code corresponding to the sourcepresentation at the execution of the command 250. The command time code255 may be recorded from the host time code 205 and thus synchronized tothe host time code 205. Alternatively, the command time code 255 may berecorded from the client time code 210, with the client time code 210synchronized to the host time code 205. Thus, the command time code 255is also synchronized to the host time code 205.

FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of thecomment medium 270. The comment medium 270 may be a semiconductormemory, a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a micromechanicalstorage device, or combinations thereof. The comment medium 270 recordsa comment response 260. In one embodiment, the comment response 260 isnot expected from the user but may be offered. The comment 260 includesa comment signal 263 and a comment time code 265. In one embodiment, thecomment 260 may be created at a second client 115 b. For example, anobserver may view a presentation of the source presentation and therecorded response 235 and create the comment 260 in response to both thesource presentation and the recorded response 235. The comment response260 may be a video, audio, text, a document, an illustration, orcombinations thereof.

The comment time code 265 may be recorded with the comment signal 263.In one embodiment, the comment time code 265 is synchronized to the hosttime code 205. The comment time code 265 may be recorded directly fromthe host time code 205. Alternatively, the comment time code 265 may berecorded from a client time code 210, with the client time code 210synchronized to the host time code 205.

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of thesource medium 215. The source medium 215 may be a semiconductor memory,a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a micromechanical storagedevice, or combinations thereof. The source medium 215 stores the sourcepresentation 275. The source presentation 275 may be organized as apresentation signal 280 with one or more presentation time codes 285.The presentation time codes 285 may be explicitly recorded as part ofthe source presentation 275. For example, presentation time codes 285may regularly be embedded as part of the presentation signal 280.Alternatively, the presentation time codes 285 may be an implicit partof the source presentation 275.

FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of acomputer 300. The computer 300 may be embodied in the host 105, theclient 115, or combinations thereof. The computer 300 includes aprocessor 305, a memory 310, and communication hardware 315. The memory310 may be a computer readable storage medium such as a semiconductorstorage device, a hard disk drive, an optical storage device amicromechanical storage device, or combinations thereof. The memory 310may store program code. The processor 305 may execute the program code.The communication hardware 315 may communicate with other devices.

In one embodiment, the memory 310 embodies one or more of the sourcemedium 215, the content medium 270, the command record 230, and/or theresponse medium 225.

FIG. 3B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of apresentation apparatus 350. The apparatus 350 may be embodied in thecomputer 300. In the depicted embodiment, the apparatus 350 includes asynchronization module 355 and a medium module 360. The synchronizationmodule 355 and the medium module 360 may be embodied in a computerreadable storage medium such as the memory 310. The computer readablestorage media may store program code executable by the processor 305perform the functions of the synchronization module 355 and the mediummodule 360.

The synchronization module 355 may synchronize the client time code 210with the host time code 205. The medium module 360 may record a responseto the presentation of the source presentation 275 at the client 115,with the recorded response 235 synchronized to the host time code 205.The apparatus 350 may also include a synchronization policy 365 as willbe described hereafter.

FIG. 4A is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa recording method 500. The method 500 may be performed by the processor305. Alternatively, the method 500 may be performed by a computerreadable storage medium such as the memory 310. The computer readablestorage medium may store program code. The program code may be executedby the processor 305 to perform the functions of the method 500.

The method 500 starts and the synchronization module 355 may synchronize503 the client time code 210 with the host time code 205. Thesynchronization 503 of the client time code 210 with the host time code205 is described in more detail in FIG. 4B.

The medium module 360 may control 505 presentation of the sourcepresentation 275 from the host 105 in response to at least one commandat the client 115. For example, a user may initiate a play command 250 aat the client 115 to begin presentation of the source presentation 275.In addition, the user may initiate a pause command at the client 115 topause presentation of the source presentation 275. In one embodiment,the presentation of the source presentation 275 as modified by the atleast one command is synchronized to the host time code 205.

The medium module 360 further records 510 the recorded response 235 tothe presentation of the source presentation 275 at the client 115. Forexample, the source presentation 275 may be language instruction and therecorded response 235 may be a language exercise directed the languageinstruction, such as an answer to a question in the languageinstruction, or the like.

In one embodiment, the response signal 240 is recorded with one or moreresponse time codes 245. The response time codes 245 may be recordedfrom the host time code 205 received at the client 115. Thus, therecording of the recorded response 235 at the client 115 is directlysynchronized to the host time code 205. Alternatively, the response timecodes 245 may be recorded from the client time code 210 after the clienttime code 210 is synchronized with the host time code 205.

In one embodiment, a single response time code 245 indicates one of thestart of the response signal 240, an end of the response signal 240, ora specified location within the response signal 240 such as 10milliseconds into the response signal 240. Alternatively, to responsetime codes 245 may indicate the start and the end of the response signal240 respectively. In a certain embodiment, one or more response timecodes 245 are distributed throughout the response signal 240. The one ormore response time codes 245 may be distributed regularly throughout theresponse signal 240.

The response may be recorded 510 as the recorded response 235 on theresponse medium 225. In one embodiment, the recorded response 235 isrecorded on a response medium 225 on the client 115 and copied to aresponse medium 225 on the host 105.

The medium module 360 may record 515 at least one command 250synchronized to the host time code 205. In one embodiment, the host timecode 205 is used to record the command time code 255. Alternatively, theclient time code 210 synchronized to the host time code 205 is used torecord the command time code 255. The command 250 and the command timecode 255 may be recorded as an entry in the command record 230 as willbe shown hereafter in FIG. 5E.

The method 500 may present 520 the source presentation 275 modified bythe at least one command 250 and concurrently present 520 the recordedresponse 235. For example, the source presentation 275 may be paused bya pause command 250 at a time indicated by the command time code 255. Inaddition, the method 500 may present the recorded response 235 and thenplay the source presentation 275 as described hereafter in FIG. 5F.

Alternatively, a language instruction source presentation 275 may bepresented 520 and paused at a same time during the presentation as whena first user original paused the presentation to record the recordedresponse 235. The recorded response 235 may be concurrently presented520 with the paused source presentation 275 and then the sourcepresentation played as shown in FIG. 5G. Thus, the source presentation275 and recorded response 235 are presented as originally recorded,without changes due to time codes from unsynchronized sources.

The method 500 may present 520 the source presentation 275 modified bythe at least one command 250 and concurrently present 520 the recordedresponse 235 via one or more clients 115. The one or more clients 115may include a client 115 that recorded 510 the recorded response 235.Alternatively, the one or more clients 115 may not include the client115 that recorded 510 the recorded response 235.

The method 500 may record 525 a comment response 260. The commentresponse 260 may be recorded 525 during the presentation 520 of thesource presentation 275 and the recorded response 235 as described instep 520. The comment response 260 may be synchronized to the host timecode 205. In one embodiment, the comment time code 265 is recordeddirectly from the host time code 205. Alternatively, the comment timecode 265 is recorded from a client time code 210, with the client timecode 210 synchronized to the host time code 205.

The comment response 260 may be a response to the presentation of thesource presentation 275 and the concurrent presentation of the recordedresponse 235. For example, a second user may view the presentation ofthe source presentation 275 and the recorded response 235 and record 525the comment response 260.

The method 500 may further concurrently present 530 the comment 260 withat least one of the presentation of the source presentation 275 and thepresentation of the recorded response 235 and the method 500 ends. Thepresentation 530 of the comment 260 may be synchronized with the hosttime code 205. Thus, the user that originally recorded the recordedresponse 235 may view the presentation of the source presentation 275,the recorded response 235, and all comment responses 260, with eachsynchronized to the host time code 205.

FIG. 4B is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa recording method 550. The method 550 may be performed by the processor305. Alternatively, the method 550 may be performed by a computerreadable storage medium such as the memory 310. The computer readablestorage medium may store program code. The program code may be executedby the processor 305 to perform the functions of the method 550.

The method 550 starts, and in one embodiment, the synchronization module355 adjusts 555 a synchronization policy 365. The synchronization policy365 may be stored in the memory 310. The synchronization policy mayspecify when and how the host time code 205 is communicated to theclient 115 to update the client time code 210.

In one embodiment, the synchronization policy 365 specifies that thehost time code 205 is embedded in the source presentation 275 as will bedescribed hereafter in FIG. 5A. Alternatively, the synchronizationpolicy may specify that the host time code 205 is communicated to theclient 115 separately from the source presentation 275 as will bedescribed hereafter in FIG. 5B. In one embodiment, the synchronizationpolicy specifies at the host time code 205 is communicated to the client115 in response to a time code request as will be described hereafter inFIG. 5C.

The synchronization module 355 may adjust 555 the synchronization policy365 in response to a communication delay between the host 105 and theclient 115. For example, the synchronization policy may specify morefrequent synchronization of the client time code 210 to the host timecode 205 as a function of the communication delay as illustrated inEquation 1, where SD is a synchronization time interval betweensynchronizations, CD is the communication delay, k1 is a nonzeroconstant.

SD=k*CD  Equation 1

Alternatively, the synchronization policy 365 may specify that theclient time code 210 be synchronized to the host time code 205 inresponse to a time code request.

In one embodiment, the synchronization policy may specify that the hosttime code 205 is embedded in the source presentation 275. In analternative embodiment, the synchronization policy may specify the hosttime code 205 is communicated separately from the source presentation275. In one embodiment, the synchronization policy may specify aseparate communication port to receive the host time code 205.

The synchronization module 355 may further determine 560 if thesynchronization policy 365 is satisfied. In one embodiment, thesynchronization policy 365 is satisfied after the expiration of thesynchronization time interval. In addition, the synchronization policymay be satisfied in response to receiving the time code request. If thesynchronization policy 365 is not satisfied, the synchronization module355 continues to adjust 555 the synchronization policy 365.

If the synchronization policy 365 is satisfied, the synchronizationmodule 355 may communicate 565 the host time code 205 from the host 105to the client 115. The synchronization module 355 may further update 570the client time code 210 with the host time code 205. In one embodiment,the synchronization module 355 adds the communication delay to the hosttime code 205 to generate the client time code 210. The method 550 mayloop to adjust 555 the synchronization policy.

In one embodiment, the communication delay is added to the host timecode 205 at the client 115 to generate the client time code 210. Thecommunication delay may be the time required to transmit the host timecode 205 from the host 105 to the client 115. The communication delaymay be determined from a one-way message and/or a round-trip messagebetween the host 105 and the client 115.

FIG. 5A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofcommunicating 370 the host time code 205. In the depicted embodiment,the presentation signal 280 includes a plurality of source presentationpackets 290 sequentially over time 372. The host time code 205 may beembedded in the presentation signal 280 as the presentation time code285. In one embodiment, the client 115 may parse the host time code 205from the presentation signal 280 and update the client time code 210with the host time code 205.

FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of communicating 370 the host time code 205. In the depictedembodiment, the presentation signal 280 is communicated sequentiallyover time through source presentation packets 290. The presentationsignal 280 may be communicated to a first communication port. The hosttime code 205 as the presentation time code 285 may be communicatedseparately to a second communication port.

FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of communicating 370 the host time code 205. In the depictedembodiment, the time code request 296 is communicated from the client115 to the host 105. The host may respond to the time code request 296by communicating the host time code 205 to the client 115.

FIG. 5D is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofcontrolling the presentation of the source presentation 275. In thedepicted embodiment, the presentation signal 280 is communicated overtime 372. A play command 250 a may be received at the client 115 at afirst presentation time code 285 a. The play command 250 a and a firstcommand time code 255 a equal to the first presentation time code 285 amay be recorded as an entry 233 a in the command record 230 has shown inFIG. 5E. The play command 250 a may cause the client 115 to present thepresentation signal 280. All the presentation time codes 285 may besynchronized to the host time code 205.

A pause command 250 b may be received of the client 115 at a secondpresentation time code 285 b. The pause command 250 b and a secondcommand time code 255 b may be recorded as an entry 233 b in the commandrecord 230 of FIG. 5E. The second command time code 255 b may be equalto the second presentation time code 285 b. The client 115 may receive aresponse signal 240 at a first response time code 245 a synchronized tothe host time code 205. The response signal 240 may terminate at asecond response time code 245 b synchronized to the host time code 205.

After recording the response signal 240, the client 115 may receive aplay command 250 c at a third presentation time code 285 c. The playcommand 250 c and a third command time code 255 b may be stored as anentry 233 c in the command record 230. The third command time code 255 cmay be equal to the third presentation time code 285.

FIG. 5E is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of thecommand record 230, with the commands 250 and command time codes 255recorded as entries 233 in response to the presentation of the sourcepresentation 275 as described for FIG. 5D.

FIG. 5F is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment ofpresenting the source presentation 275 and the response signal 240 ofFIG. 5D. In the depicted embodiment, the first response time code 245 ais set equal to the second presentation time code 285 b and the thirdpresentation time code 285 c is set equal to the second response timecode 245 b. As a result, the presentation signal 280 and the responsesignal 240 are presented as a contiguous signal. In one embodiment, thesource presentation 275 and the response signal 240 are presented as acontiguous signal to one or more clients 115.

A comment signal 263 may be recorded at a comment time code 265 duringthe presentation of the source presentation 275 and the response signal240. The comment signal 263 may later be presented with the sourcepresentation 275 and the response signal 240 beginning at the commenttime code 265.

FIG. 5G is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of presenting the source presentation 275 and the responsesignal 240 of FIG. 5D. In the depicted embodiment, the presentationsignal 280 and the response signal 240 are presented with the originaltiming based on the host time code 205 as shown in FIG. 5D.

A comment signal 263 may be recorded at a comment time code 265 duringthe presentation of the source presentation 275 and the response signal240. The comment signal 263 may later be presented with the sourcepresentation 275 and the response signal 240 beginning at the commenttime code 265 as shown in FIG. 5H.

FIG. 5H is a schematic block diagram illustrating one alternateembodiment of presenting a source presentation 275 and a commentresponse 260 comprising a comment signal 263. In the depictedembodiment, the first comment time code 265 a is set equal to the secondpresentation time code 285 b and the third presentation time code 285 cis set equal to the second comment time code 265 b. As a result, thepresentation signal 280 and the comment signal 263 are presented as acontiguous signal. In one embodiment, the source presentation 275 andthe comment signal 263 are presented as a contiguous signal to one ormore clients 115.

The embodiments synchronize the client time code 210 with the host timecode 205. In addition, the embodiments record the recorded response 235and/or comment response 260 to the presentation of the sourcepresentation 275 at the client 115 using the host time code 205. As aresult, the recorded responses 235 and comment responses 260 may besynchronized with the source presentation 275 when the sourcepresentation is presented again. In addition, commands 250 and commandtime codes 255 may be recorded during the source presentation 275 andthe source presentation 275 may later be presented modified by thecommands 250 at the command time codes 255. As a result, recordedresponses 235 and comments are synchronized to the source presentation275.

The embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: presenting a sourcepresentation from a host at a client using a client time code;synchronizing, by use of a processor, the client time code with a hosttime code; pausing presentation of the source presentation from the hostin response to a pause command from the client; recording the pausecommand and a first command time code synchronized to the host time codein a command record, wherein the command record is recorded on one ofthe host and the client and records each command and each command timecode controlling presentation of the source presentation; recording aresponse signal of a response to the presentation of the sourcepresentation at the client and a first response time code in a recordedresponse, wherein the first response time code is synchronized to thehost time code, and the response signal and first response time code arerecorded to the host; playing the source presentation from the host inresponse to a play command from the client; recording the play commandand a second command time code synchronized to the host time code in thecommand record; presenting the source presentation from the host usingpresentation time codes, wherein the source presentation is presentedfrom a first presentation time code; in response to a secondpresentation time code being equal to the first command time code fromthe command record, performing the pause command from the command recordat the host to pause the source presentation from the host; presentingthe response signal at the second presentation time code; and inresponse to a third presentation time code being equal to the secondcommand time code from the command record, performing the play commandfrom the command record at the host to play the source presentation fromthe host, wherein the source presentation and the response signal arepresented as a contiguous signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, the methodfurther comprising: recording a comment response; and concurrentlypresenting the comment response with the presentation of the sourcepresentation.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the clienttime code with the host time code comprises: communicating the host timecode from the host to the client in response to satisfying asynchronization policy; and updating the client time code with the hosttime code.
 4. The method of claim 3, the method further comprisingadjusting the synchronization policy.
 5. The method of claim 3, whereinthe synchronization policy is satisfied after a synchronization timeinterval.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the source presentation is avideo.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the source presentation is anaudio message.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the source presentationis one or more of a live presentation, text, a document, and anillustration.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded response isa video.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded response is oneor more of audio, text, a document, and an illustration.
 11. The methodof claim 1, wherein the source presentation is presented in a browser.12. The method of claim 1, wherein the source presentation compriseslanguage instruction.
 13. The method of claim 1, where the sourcepresentation and the response signal are presented as a contiguoussignal to one or more clients.
 14. An apparatus comprising: a processor;a memory storing code executable by the processor to perform: presentinga source presentation from a host at a client using a client time code;synchronizing the client time code with a host time code; pausingpresentation of the source presentation from the host in response to apause command from the client; recording the pause command and a firstcommand time code synchronized to the host time code in a commandrecord, wherein the command record is recorded on one of the host andthe client and records each command and each command time codecontrolling presentation of the source presentation; recording aresponse signal of a response to the presentation of the sourcepresentation at the client and a first response time code in a recordedresponse, wherein the first response time code is synchronized to thehost time code, and the response signal and first response time code arerecorded to the host; playing the source presentation from the host inresponse to a play command from the client; recording the play commandand a second command time code synchronized to the host time code in thecommand record; presenting the source presentation from the host usingpresentation time codes, wherein the source presentation is presentedfrom a first presentation time code; in response to a secondpresentation time code being equal to the first command time code fromthe command record, performing the pause command from the command recordat the host to pause the source presentation from the host; presentingthe response signal at the second presentation time code; and inresponse to a third presentation time code being equal to the secondcommand time code from the command record, performing the play commandfrom the command record at the host to play the source presentation fromthe host, wherein the source presentation and the response signal arepresented as a contiguous signal.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, theprocessor further performing: recording a comment response; andconcurrently presenting the comment response with the presentation ofthe source presentation.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinsynchronizing the client time code with the host time code comprises:communicating the host time code from the host to the client in responseto satisfying a synchronization policy; and updating the client timecode with the host time code.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein therecorded response is one or more of video, audio, text, a document, andan illustration.
 18. A program product comprising a computer readablestorage medium that stores code executable by a processor, theexecutable code comprising code to perform: presenting a sourcepresentation from a host at a client using a client time code;synchronizing the client time code with a host time code; pausingpresentation of the source presentation from the host in response to apause command from the client; recording the pause command and a firstcommand time code synchronized to the host time code in a commandrecord, wherein the command record is recorded on one of the host andthe client and records each command and each command time codecontrolling presentation of the source presentation; recording aresponse signal of a response to the presentation of the sourcepresentation at the client and a first response time code in a recordedresponse, wherein the first response time code is synchronized to thehost time code, and the response signal and first response time code arerecorded to the host; playing the source presentation from the host inresponse to a play command from the client; recording the play commandand a second command time code synchronized to the host time code in thecommand record; presenting the source presentation from the host usingpresentation time codes, wherein the source presentation is presentedfrom a first presentation time code; in response to a secondpresentation time code being equal to the first command time code fromthe command record, performing the pause command from the command recordat the host to pause the source presentation from the host; presentingthe response signal at the second presentation time code; and inresponse to a third presentation time code being equal to the secondcommand time code from the command record, performing the play commandfrom the command record at the host to play the source presentation fromthe host, wherein the source presentation and the response signal arepresented as a contiguous signal.
 19. The program product of claim 18,the processor further performing: recording a comment response; andconcurrently presenting the comment response with the presentation ofthe source presentation.
 20. The program of claim 18, whereinsynchronizing the client time code with the host time code comprises:communicating the host time code from the host to the client in responseto satisfying a synchronization policy; and updating the client timecode with the host time code.